Hi everybody,My question is why does French oak colour quicker than American oak. After making my cuts on my ujsm spirit run yesterday I put 4.5 litres at 65% on 40 grams of French oak and 2 litres on 20 grams of American oak, the French has taken colour on already but the American is still white. Why is this, has anybody experienced the same thing?

I had planed to do both then do a bit of blending, try to find something nice. I was given the American oak as a gift and its heavy toast and char, being so dark I thought it would colour fast but it took ages last time I used it

Plumby wrote:I had planed to do both then do a bit of blending, try to find something nice. I was given the American oak as a gift and its heavy toast and char, being so dark I thought it would colour fast but it took ages last time I used it

I thought the same thing about alligator charr and thought it would colour the quickest but in fact it’s the complete opposite.I think the grain in French oak is more loose and not as tight as American oak that’s why it colours more quickly. :handgestures-thumbupleft:

Hi - A newbie question I'm afraid. I'm about to have my first go at french oaking a batch of rum. I wasn't sure if you guys tend to use the staves "as is" or do you specifically "char" them over a gas flame first? Thanks in advance :smile: